Automatic drain for water-cooled engines



Nov; 15, 1927;l

` T. H. ANDREWS AUTOMATIC RAINFOR WATER COOLED ENGINES Fild Deo. 11, 1925 Qwiawlsn 'T1-1512111112115 H. Andr EWE,

I water cooled engines Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

' UNITEDA STATES THADDEUS H.' ANDREWS, OF ASPER, WYOMING.

AUTOMATIC DRAIN FOR WATER-COLED ENGI'NES.

Appncatioaiea rmember 11, 1925. serial No. 74,875.

This invention relates to improvements in means for draining the cooling medium from internal combustion engines automatically.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of means for draining the water jackets of internal combustion engines in automatic Ina-nner by the internal combustion engine operating parts, whenthe operation of the engine has ceased.

In its specific-adaptation the invention iS used for automatically draining the coolingI medium from the water jackets of internal combustion engines upon stoppage` of the internal combustion engine, to prevent freezing of the water and liability of fracture to the engine casing, and to keep water from seeping into the cylinders past leaky gaskets.

AIn connection with pumping machinery and equipment of oil field machinery, internal combustion engines are used, of the water cooled type, and it is conventional practice to shut off the water between the supply tank and engine and drain the water from the jacket when the engine is idle or not operating. The drain of the engine jacket is thus dependent upon manual operation, and unless an employee is present within a short time after the engine fails to function, the watery supply, during cold weather, very often freezes andthe engine jacket is cracked. Y

lVith the improved automatic drain for however, immediately upon stoppage of the engine, the final back turn of the crank shaft or other operating parts Vot .the engine is utilized to operate novel valve operating means whereby t0 o-pen a drain valve to drain the supply of water from the engine jacket and to close ofi additional water supply to the engine.

ther :objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of tlie'following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specificationand wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is an elevation of pumping equipment including a water supply tank and internal combustion engine cooperatively connected therewith, with the improvedy automat-ic drain means associated with the in-v ternal combustion engine for draining the water therefrom when the engine has stopped and to shut off the supply of water to the engine. n i

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line y34-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4L is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a novel type of an operating connection used with the improved drain means.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of this invent-ion, the letter A may generally designate pumping machinery and equipment of any approved type,such as is used in the oil fields, and which includes an internal combustion'engine B, using cooling medium supplied from a reservoir or tank operatively connected with the water jacket of the engine B. The improved mechanism D is operatively connected 4with the engine operating parts and conduits from the tank C for automatically draining water from the engine jacket of the internal combustion engine B,- upon stoppage of the latter at any time.

The operation of the means for automatically draining the supply of cooling medium from the engine jacket takes advantage of the back kick which takes place at the end of an operative movement of the engine crank shaft, just priory to stoppage thereof. This back kick as is well known, is caused by the compressed gases in the cylinders of the engine expanding at the upstroke of the pistons, at theftime when the crank shaft and operatingfly-wheel and parts connected thereto do not have suicient momentum to cause the crank shaft to pass dead center, and as al result such expanding gases will force the pistons downwardly and move the crank shaft reverse to its normal operating direction. for substantially a half revolution, moreor less.

Referring to the engine B, and its tank C, the engine B includes a water jacket or cas'ng construction `10, and a water supply conduit 11 leads from the lower portion o the tankv C. and has connected therewith a conduit 12 by means of a coupling 13; the conduit 12 entering the water jacket 10, and passing upwardly therefromat 14, and being connected by conduit 15 to the upper portion of the tank C for return ofthe cooling medium. The 'operation of the cooling system of the engine B may be thermosyphonic or pump operated, and it is understood that the water flows thru the line 11 into the water jacket of the engine B and thence thru the conduit 15 into the tank C.

1n the conduit 11, at opposite sides of connection of the conduit 12 therewith, it is preferred to place a drain valve 20, and a shut Voif valve 21; the former only being opened to drain the water from the engine jacket, and the latter only being closed when the drain valve 20 is opened to perform its function. During normal opera-tion the valve 21 is open to permit the water to circulate from the tank C to the water jacket 10 of the engine B and return to the tank C, and the valve 2O is closed to permit such operation during functioning of the engine B. Describing the apparatus D by means of which the shut off of the valve 21 and opening of the valve 2O are automatically accomplished, it is preferred to provide a valve operating lever 30, fulcrumed intermediateits ends upon a standard 31 which may be carried by the conduit 11. At one end of the operating lever 30 a pivoted link 32 may be connected with the valve 2O for operating the same. At the opposite side of the fulcrumed standard 31 from the connecting link 32 a connecting link 33 is pivoted upon the lever 30 and connects the valve 21 for operation thereof. At the free end of the operating lever 30, at the same side of the fulcrum standard as the valve operating link 33, an adjustable weight 35 is carried by the lever 30, and by gravity the tendency of the weight- 35 is to close the valve 21 and open the valveI 20, as can readily be understood. However, the weight 35 is held suspended and the valve operating lever 30 elevated at its weighted end by means of a prop or detent member 38, which may be forked at its upper and lower ends for engaging the conduit 11 or analogous support at its lower end and the operating lever 3() at its upper end, to hold the operating lever 30 elevated and the valve 21 normally open and the valve 2O normally closed, thus permitting the water to circulate from the tank C thru the engine acket 10 and return to the tank. Of course, instantly upon release of the prop 38 the weight 35 will drop to pivotally move the lever 30 on its fulcrum standard 31 and close the valve 21 and open the drain valve 20.

The internal combustion engine B includes a crank shaft 40, an end of which may extend from the engine. In lieu of the crank shaft 40, however, a iy wheel oranalogous crank shaft lconnection which moves with the crank shaft may be utilized as a connection for the means D. It is preferred to provide a casting 41, which-may be termed a connecting member, having a sleeve-like extension 42 thereon, provided with a socket 43 adapted to receive the extension of the crank shaft, as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, and adjustable set screws 44 are carried by the sleeve 42 for clamping action against the crank shaft 40 in order to mount the supporting member 41 for rotation with the crank shaft. The supporting member 41 is anged annularly at 45, and provides the outwardly extending disc-shaped reduced portion 46, which inwardly of the face thereof is provided with screw threaded openings. On this portion 46, which is disc-shaped, a ring-shaped yoke 51 is to be pivotally mounted, the same having an opening 52 therein for receiving the disc portion 46 of the supporting member 41 therein. A disc-shaped ratchet wheel47 is provided for clamping the yoke in pivotal relation upon the portion 4G, the disc-shaped ratchet wheel 47 h aving transverse openings adapted to align with the screw threaded opening in the member 41 above mentioned, and to receive bolts 48 for clamping the same against the portion 46, to form an annular groove 50 within which the yoke 51 pivots or oscillates. The ratchet wheel 47 is provided with a series of peripheral teeth 55. Upon its upper edge the yoke 51 is provided with a supporting extension 56, having a pawl 57 pivoted thereto on a pin 58, the pawl being adapted to rride over the teeth 55 when the ratchet wheel is rotated in one direction, and to engage the teeth 55 and prevent rotation of the ratchet wheel in an opposite direction.

Depending from the yoke 51 is a lever eX- tension 60, having an outturned end 61, to which an end of a connecting link 62 is pivoted, the connecting link 62 at its opposite end having slidable connection with the supporting prop or detent member 38.

Referring to the operation of the invention', at any time that the engine fails to operate, upon the last rotational movement of the crank shaft 40, the same will be moved in a direction reverse to the normal operating direction, incident to gas eXpansion in the piston cylinders when the crank shaft refuses to pass Lipper dead center, and because of this back kick or reverse movement of the crank shaft. the supporting member 41 will be rotated with the crank shaft, and likewise the ratchet wheel 47 will move therewith, and the teeth 55 will ride agains the pawl 57,and since the pawl only rides over the teeth upon the forward rotational direction of the engine, it can readily be understood that the reverse movement of the crank shaft will cause an engagement of the pawl 57 by the first tooth to ride against the same, and this will then pivotally move the yokey 51 upon its bearing7 throwing the lever arm 60 and pulling upon the connecting link 62, to release the prop or detent 38, and permit the weight 35 to pivotally operate the valve lever 30, and close off the valve 21 and open the valve 20. This operation of course closes off the supply of cooling medium to the enginel B, and permits the Water from the engine jacket to drain thru the drain conduit upon opening of the valve 20. In order to limit the Vthrow movement of the paWl 57 upon operation of the engine, a stop pin 7l may be provided, which insures that the pawl 57 will always be in po'- sition to drop by gravity against the teeth of the ratchet Wheel 457.

From the foregoing ydescription of this invention it is apparent that novel means has been provided to automatically drain Water from the Water jacket of an internal combustion engine, when the engine stops, by utilizing the back movement of the engine crank shaft as an operating factor.

Various changes in the shape, size. and arrangement of parts maybe made to the form of invention herein vshown and described, Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the 'scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. The combination with an internal combustion engine including a Water jacket for receiving cooling medium vfor the engine, drain valve means foi1 releasing the cooling medium from the engine jacket, and means connected 7With the drain valve means and With the crank shaft of the engine to open the drain valve upon reverse rotation of the crank shaft.

2. In a device for draining Water from the Water cooling equipment of internal combustion engines the combination with an internal combustion engine including a Water cooling system and a crank shaft, a drain valve for draining thev Water from the Water cooling system, and means operatively connected With the drain valvev and crank shaft to automatically open the drain valve When the engine stalls after an operating period.

3. The combination With'an internal coinbustion engine including a Water cooling system, and a crank shaft, and release means connected With the crank shaft for automatically draining the Water from the cooling system When the engine stalls after an operating period. Y

4i. In combination With an internal Vcombustion engine including a crank shaft, and a Water cooling system, a drain valve forl the Water cooling system', means normally maintaining said drain valveV closed, 'and means having connection with the'crank shaft of the engine for opening the drain valve at a predetermined movement of the crank shaft.

5. In a device of the class described the combination With an internal combustion engine including a Water cooling system, drain valve means for the Water cooling system, means normally tending to open the drain valve means, release means holding said last mentioned means inoperative and the drain valve closed, and means connected Withthe internal combustionl engine crank sli-aft to release the releasemeans upon reverse movement of theengine crank shaft. f

6. In rcombination with an internal? combustion engine including a crank shaft vanda Water coolingv system, drain valve means for the water cooling system, means rtendingto open the drain valve means, releasable means for holding'the last mentioned means inoper'- ative and the drain valve closed, and means operable byv reverse movement yof the crank shaft to release the release means and permit the drain valve to open.

7. In a device of the class described y.the combination With an internal combustion engine including a .Water cooling system, drain valve means for the Water cooling system, release means normally holdingythe drain valve closed, a ratchet connected for movement `With the internal combustion engine crank shaft, paavl means for cooperation with theratchet to be moved with Ithe ratchet only upon reverse rotation of Vthe crank shaft, and means operatively connected between vsaid pawl means and the means which normally holds the drain valve closed to release the latter and permit opening of the drain valve to release water from the cooling system.

8. VIn combina-tion with an internal combustion engine including a Water jacket, Water supply means for supplying cooling medium to the Water jacket, a drain valve for draining Water from the. Water jacket, a shut off valve for shutting off the supply of Water from the Water supply means to the Water jacket, and means operatively 4oonnected with the internal combustionv engine crank shaft for simultaneously operating"V the drain valve andshut off valve upon `reverse rotation of the crank shaft to open the dra-in valve` and close thev shut off valve.- j

9. In a device for automatically draining Water from internal combustion engine cooling systems the combination withl an internal combustion engine including a cooling system and a crank shaft, a drain valve for the' cooling system to drain Water therefrom.. a ratchet wheel connected withthe crank shaft for rotation therewith, a pivoted "member cooperatively mounted with respect to the ratchetr Wheel, a paWl on the pivoted Amember normally coopera-ting With the teeth ofthe ratchet Wheel and normally freely riding over the teeth of the ratchet Wheel When the crank shaft rotates forwardly, the teeth of the ratchet Wheel being formed to engage the pavvl and cause movement of the pivoted member upon reverse rotation of the crank shaft, and means connecting the pivoted member With the drain valve to open they latter upon movement of the pivoted member as indicated.

l0. In combination With an internal combustion engine including a crank shaft and a coolingV system, means for supplying cooling medium to the cooling system, shut off valve means for shutting od cooling medium supply to the engine, drain valve means for draining off Water from the cooling system of the engine, means operably connected with said shut off valve and drain valve to cause simultaneous movement thereof to open the one When the other is closed, means operating on said last mentioned means to tend to close the shut off valve and open the drain valve, releasable means operating on the last mentioned means to hold the same inoperative and the sluit od valve 4open and the drain valve closed, and means operatively connecting the release means With the internal combustion engine crank shaft for releasing the release means upon reverse rota` tion of the crank shaft.

ll. In combination with an internal combustion engine including a crank shaft and a cooling system, means for supplying cooling medium to the cooling system, shut o valve means for shutting` off cooling medium supply to the engine, drain valve means for draining off Water from the cooling system of the engine, means operably connected With said shut 0H valve and drain valve to cause simultaneous operation thereof, means operating on said last mentioned means to tend to close the shut off valve and open the drain valve, releasable means operating on the last mentioned means to hold the same inoperative and the shut off valve open and the drain valve closed, a ratchet Wheel connected for movement with the crank shaft, a pivoted member cooperatively mounted With respect to the ratchet Wheel, a paWl pivoted on the pivoted member for engagement by the teeth of the ratchet Wheel to move the pivoted member only upon reverse rotation of the crank shaft, and means connecting the pivoted member with the release means to cause release of the latter When the pivoted member moves' as indicated, to close the shut off valve and open the drain valve.

. 12. In combination with an internal combustion engine including a crank shaft and a cooling system, a. supporting device connected With the crank shaft having an annular groove therein and a ratchet Wheel supported thereby, a pivoted yoke pivotally mounted in said groove, a pavvl pivoted on the pivoted member operating over the teeth of the ratchet Wheel, a drain valve for the cooling system of the engine, and means connecting the drain valve With the pivoted member for automatic opening of the drain valve upon reverse turning of the crank shaft of the engine. v

13. In combination With an internal combustion engine including al Water jacket, a Water supply, means connecting the Water supply With the Water jacket to permit Water to flow from the Water supply to the Water jacket and vice versa, shut off means between the Water supply and Water jacket to prevent iiow of water from the water supply to the Water jacket, drain valve means for draining water from the Water jacket, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends, means connecting the lever at one side of its pivot With the drain valve and at the opposite side of the pivot with the shut off valve, means acting on the lever to cause opening of the drain valve and closing of the shut olif valve, release means for holding the last mentioned means inoperative and the lever in such position that the shut off valve is open vand the drain valve closed, and meansoperatively connecting the release means With the internal combustion engine to release the release means upon reverse rotation of the engine.

lll. In combination with an internal combustion engine including a Water cooling system, drain valve means for the Water cooling system, and means operatively connecting the drain valve means with the movable portion of the engine to cause opening of the drain valve means automatically upon reverse rotation of the engine.

15. In combination With an internal combustion engine including a Water jacket, an external Water supply, means connecting the Water supply With the jacket to permit Water to flow from the Water supply to the jacket and vice versa, shut off valve means between the Water supply and' the jacket to prevent fiovv of Water from the former to the latter, drain valve means for draining Water from the Water jacket, lever means connected with the shut olii' valve and drain valve to hold the one open when the other is closed, Weight means operating on the lever means to normally open the drain valve and close the shut off valve, a detent member to hold the leverI means in position with the shut off valve open and drain valve closed, and means operatively connected with the internal combustion engine to cause release of the detent means automatically upon reverse rotation of the engine.

THADDEUS H. Al\lDBlVS6 

